KRISTINA'S WEEKLY EMAIL OF THOUGHT-PROVOKING ESSAYS & VIDEOS TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO YOURSELF ON THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE |
Greetings!
It's hard to believe that tomorrow is the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere! I consider this one of the other "New Year" moments we can use to reset, as things are starting to be reborn and pop again after the inward, darker days of Winter and the death and decay of Fall. (And btw, March was actually the first month of the year until the Roman's messed with the calendar around 450BCE...).
Therefore, it's a potent time to stop and reflect on who you are, where you're at and who you want to be in this world, especially now that it's changed so much. As I always say, there is no accident you are who you are at this transformative time in the history of our planet, and we all have a unique path to follow and job to do. So this weekend, why not think about: What greatness is being born in you?
I have the privilege of working with all sorts of amazing, diverse folks from every generation, background and industry. A majority though, fall in that very pivotal age between 28-30. This is because for most, your 20's are a kind of second adolescence or "adulthood lite." You're out in the world having actual experiences to inform you in real time who you are and what you want, rather than any theories based on what you studied or had socially within the bubble of college. After a few years on your own out there, you can make better, more informed decisions about how you want to proceed as a full-fledged adult. For the past five years or so, when things have looked the bleakest and most challenging in our country and world, it has been these young men and women who have given me hope and faith in the future, knowing that it will be in their very capable and often extraordinary hands.
However, as a society, we often do not value the lives and experiences of our older, wiser citizens, which has only declined with our youth-obsessed culture becoming faster and more digital leaving them behind. And then the situation of the past year has relegated them to the likes of a helpless endangered species that need to be protected, although in many ways have been harmed far more in the "protecting" than what they were supposed to be protected from....but I digress...
I thought I would rerun today's PGG to remind you - regardless of any age or gender/identity - that we each have a voice and can be great in our own way. Even if you don't end up in the history books - as many powerful changemakers and activists do not - know that you have something special to contribute to making your life and those in your sphere of influence better, even if it's simply to maintain a peaceful, healthy, loving existence no matter what is going on around you.
And as you may know by now, I've been celebrating the 20 year anniversary of The Women's Mosaic (TWM) (see the PGG note talking about it here), I've been adding photos of past events on the TWM Facebook Page, so those of you who were part of TWM (or curious about it) might want to take a stroll down memory lane there, and keep checking back. This Instagram post talks about how much of a personal growth experience this photo project has been for me.
Lastly, if you look forward to and benefit from these weekly missives and PGG essays and want to show your gratitude, any donations for my efforts are welcome and appreciated here: Paypal.me/kristinaleonardi. And as always, please feel free to contact me with any comments about anything.
Big hug <3
Kristina
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"I love your PGG newsletters - one of the only ones I actually read in its entirety. They are excellently written, and spot on. Thanks for being so inspirational and reflective!" ~ Tom D.
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They Might Be Giants
Originally published June 4, 2014
If a human being dreams a great dream, or dares to love someone…If a human being dares to be bigger than the condition into which he or she was born, it means so can you… I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me. ~ Maya Angelou
And what a human she was! Dr. Maya Angelou possessed and cultivated a creative and brilliant mind, a powerful and compassionate heart, a flair for the dramatic, a serious sense of humor, and a thorough appetite for all aspects of life. She was a phenomenal woman who spent every breath of her 86 years consciously striving to express the fullest embodiment of what it means to exist as a spiritual being in this physical world.
To me, this is her greatest legacy. Like my other six foot tall heroine Eleanor Roosevelt, she walked her talk, and therefore we all benefited. She served as an example for all she stood for and knew to be Universally true; she espoused the unity and dignity of people of every race and creed, recognizing that “we are more alike than we are unalike.”
And she was very aware that she was indeed human, and knew how dangerous it is to make people, like a Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, or Mother Teresa larger than life — they were all human beings and when we idolize or put them on a pedestal they become inaccessible and we think we can never be like them. Instead they should inspire us to be extraordinary in our own way.
In our youth-obsessed and advertising-driven culture, it is unfortunate that we give so little airtime to our elders like Dr. Angelou, Nelson Mandela or Grace Lee Boggs, because when we listen to the wisdom that nearly nine decades of being a person who has chosen to love, forgive, learn and grow, who allowed themselves to reflect, observe and evolve, they teach us how to live. They are lighthouses that remind us who we really are and where we should be going — and these days especially when one is extinguished it feels like an even bigger loss because they are rare gems and we wonder who is coming up the rear to replace them.
In my work I have the honor and privilege of helping you discover that no matter how old you are or where you are from, you have a unique way of leaving our planet a little better off than when you arrived — even if it is simply by virtue of your own healed life.
Some of my clients, as a result of our meeting, have already gone on as a result of our meeting to win Tonys and Fulbrights, or are on their way to becoming a media moguls, best-selling authors, cutting edge inventors, or warriors for justice; whether they have an Ivy League background, were formerly incarcerated or are a ninth-grade NYC public school student, every one of them has something to offer, an opportunity to improve their own world, a way to be the most human they can be.
Not quite convinced that you, too, can be a giant among us? Give me a buzz and I’ll show you how like those Redwoods of California, you are one of hundreds of special trees that make up a forest of awe-inspiring majesty and beauty, living in harmony with one another and Earth, and the very Nature of Life itself.
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If you like what I write, you'll love what I have to say in person!
If you look forward to and benefit from these weekly essays and want to show your gratitude, any donations for my efforts are welcomed and appreciated here: Paypal.me/kristinaleonardi
Looking for some quality content while social distancing?
Remember, you can always see PGGs from any month or year going back to 2010 on my website at www.kristinaleonardi.com and visit my social media pages for more inspiration throughout the week! Want to share my PGG? Use my Medium page for friendliest posting version.
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If you're looking for some compassionate candor and a dose of tough love, Kristina is the coach for you.... I came into this really lacking clarity and walked away with a sense of relief. Can't recommend her enough. ~ Kevin R.
Now is a great time to take stock of and get on track with your career and life with clarity, balance and direction.
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Kristina’s coaching expertise is phenomenal — all-encompassing, inclusive of the mind, body & spirit, nonjudgmental, insightful and deeply involved in providing solutions and tools to be a better version of yourself. ~ Audrey N.
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Heart & Soul: The Key to Success in 2021 and Beyond
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SELF-CARE IN THE MIDST OF SEA CHANGE:
Navigating times of transition for healing and personal growth
Using the Great Pause for Personal & Professional Development
Staying Motivated Throughout the Job Search Process
Authentic Branding: Letting the Real You Shine in Any Situation
Who Are You & What Are You Supposed to Be Doing with Your Life?
Stepping Stones for Success
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PGG VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK |
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Click on the link for this week's video where I offer
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kristina leonardi - Medium
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